Triple Book Review-Release Me, Claim Me, Complete Me by J. Kenner

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You comes an erotic, emotionally charged romance between a powerful man who’s never heard “no” and a fiery woman who says “yes” on her own terms.

He was the one man I couldn't avoid. And the one man I couldn't resist.

Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me.

Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressures of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bare the darkest truth about my past—and risk breaking us apart.

But Damien was haunted, too. And as our passion came to obsess us both, his secrets threatened to destroy him—and us—forever.

NOTE: This edition includes an excerpt from J. Kenner's Claim Me.

Release Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

For years I have really been curious about this author, her books just pop up everywhere and even though I struggle with over hyped books and authors, I decided that this was an author I really needed to try and so when I saw the first three books available at my local library, I grabbed them up and quite frankly I LOVED them. I read all three in 2 days. I was really really nervous with the blurb comparing them to Fifty Shades however, these books had a completely different feel to them and didn’t resemble anything like Fifty Shades *sigh in relief*. Even though there are complex characters involved, its nothing like what you see in Fifty Shades which for the most part aren’t really romance in my opinion…but these books really worked for me in the romance department. Also as a side note, the writing in this book is spectacular which really makes a difference from Fifty Shades. There was something about this couple that just sang to me so I want to share my thoughts on each book.

I don’t want an icon. Not on my wall, not in my bed. I want the woman, Nikki. I want you

In the first book we have the beginnings of Damien Stark and Nikki Fairchild’s love story. Damien and Nikki have known each other for six years, back in Texas. but its been six years later. Both Damien and Nikki are unattached and focused on their own lives. They meet up at a art gala. Nikki has always been drawn to Damien, in a way that she doesn’t understand. Nikki hasn’t had the best luck in relationships or men or even sex. Nikki has moved from Dallas to Los Angeles, in an effort to make a fresh start and get away from her crazy mother who forced her into beauty pageants all of her life. Nikki isn’t a on the spot likable heroine, she is one that grows on you. She doesn’t have a personality that is bad or anything. But she has alot of pain and struggles, and she hides it behind a fake facade that she shows to the public. She never lets many know the real Nikki. I found this to be really intriguing because I wanted to know who the real Nikki really was. These books are written in 1st POV, so we get to see the inner Nikki. The more I read though, the more I was drawn to Nikki. She became such a likable character that has a past, she has flaws, she makes mistakes, but she is also a good person who is kind and loyal and devoted to those she loves the most. Then we have Damien Stark. The hero is full of mysteries for sure. We don’t really see the full side of him in this book, we only get hints and delights of who he really is. But he isn’t super dark or crazy either. Even though he is drawn to Nikki, and desires her, I didn’t feel like it was too obsessive or crazy. He is a alpha male, has plenty of money, and is domineering at times but I love that Damien and Nikki laugh and tease each other from the very beginning. There is a powerful chemistry of course, but honestly, we see various sides to their relationship that makes it feel very personal and real to the reader. What I felt so drawn to is how these two accept each other, all their faults and mysteries and are very supportive of each other. And we some small hints of a mystery/suspenseful type of plot too. In the first book we don’t know if its the author leading up to more in the plot or just a weird entry in the story, but it leaves you very intrigued.

For Damien, our obsession is a game. For me, it is fiercely, blindingly, real.

Damien Stark’s need is palpable—his need for pleasure, his need for control, his need for me. Beautiful and brilliant yet tortured at his core, he is in every way my match.

I have agreed to be his alone, and now I want him to be fully mine. I want us to possess each other beyond the sweetest edge of our ecstasy, into the deepest desires of our souls. To let the fire that burns between us consume us both.

But there are dark places within Damien that not even our wildest passion can touch. I yearn to know his secrets, yearn for him to surrender to me as I have surrendered to him. But our troubled pasts will either bind us close . . . or shatter us completely.

Claim Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

We continue with the Stark series with Claim Me. In this story we get some more yumminess between Damien and Nikki. Both Damien and Nikki are embarking and learning each other in this relationship they have. Nikki is wanting to know more about Damien’s past and the secrets he hides. Damien is striving to learn to trust in Nikki and the love she has for him. Both Damien and Nikki are tortured souls who find what they need in each other. We see how truly right they are for each other in all the right ways. This book continues right off after book one. So they are finishing up their “contracted” deal we had in book one. But soon both Damien and Nikki will have to deal with secrets being revelead and the craziness of dealing with the paparazzi and a huge secret of Damien that will come into light. In this book however, we learn so much more about Damien and his past. We learn and see how much he has overcome, and the incredible pain he had to go through when he was young. My heart just about broke for this hero. He has gone through so much and seeing him find some peace that he deserves with his relationship in Nikki soothes the reader.

“You humble me, Nikki. Don’t you see that? It must be clear from my expression that I do not, because he goes on. “If I do all those things for you–soothe you, center you, give you strength–then that is worth more to me than every penny I have earned building Stark International.”

It just warmed my soul to see the depths of their relationship grow stronger. We see how strong and determined Nikki is. I just admired her character even more. We see more depths to her as well, the complexities and the way she works through challenges. Now I will say that the sex scenes get more heated in this book, and quite long too. That is probably my only complaint, is I felt like I had to skim through some of the pages because it got too much for me. But there is also something so gravitating about Claim Me and I just wanted more of this couple especially with the small teaser it leaves us with here. I wouldn’t call it a full on cliff hanger, but is a small one? I definitely was more than eager to pick up book three to find out what happens.

This sexy, emotionally charged romance continues the story of Damien Stark, the powerful multimillionaire who’s never had to take “no” for an answer, and Nikki Fairchild, the Southern belle who only says “yes” on her own terms.

Our desire runs deep. But our secrets cut close. Beautiful, strong, and commanding, Damien Stark fills a void in me that no other man can touch. His fierce cravings push me beyond the brink of bliss—and unleash a wild passion that utterly consumes us both.

Yet beneath his need for dominance, he carries the wounds of a painful past. Haunted by a legacy of dark secrets and broken trust, he seeks release in our shared ecstasy, the heat between us burning stronger each day.

Our attraction is undeniable, our obsession inevitable. Yet not even Damien can run from his ghosts, or shield us from the dangers yet to come.

Complete Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

In Complete Me we have the continuation of this marvelous couple that ties you up in knots in emotion and romance and desire. I do think that this book is probably the one that had me at the edge of my seat the most. There is so much more development to the plot that unravels in the story that just pulls you even more into their story. Our hero, has been accused of murder and has to go to Germany for trial and to clear his name. And Nikki goes to Germany, to support the man she loves even though she knows he doesn’t want her to see what will happen. Seeing these two struggle with the uncertainty of the future, knowing that all the money in the world couldn’t save them from what could happen. This book just about tore me up in two, seeing how much these two love each other and not knowing if they have a future together. There are other forces at work, trying to bring down Damien.

I don’t want you to have to handle it. That’s the horror of my past. But you…you’re the reality of my present. You’re the proof I survived. The prize in the cereal box

It is unknown who the real villain is in the story, and quite frankly I was shocked to find out the real person behind everything. It completley blew me away in this book. We see both Damien and Nikki fight for their lives and the love they have for each other. Nikki is so devoted to Damien, she will stand by him through ANYTHING!! But they are both really tested in this book, in some cruel ways even that neither of them plan on. Even though this couple faces some real tough challenges, I also felt that we see their relationship go to a higher level than we have seen previously.

At the end of the day, it’s just you and me. We make our own reality, Nikki. And no one can take it from us.

They start to realize how much they truly love each other, and no matter what, their love does make them stronger. Its definitely not an easy lesson for either of them. But seeing them go through fire and brimstone and come out strong and vibrant is simply epic!! Complete me had me tied up in knots, on edge, in suspense but left me feeling satisfied and complete with a bit of a book hangover. A FLAWLESS ROMANCE TO BRING YOU ALL THE FEELS!

Have you read J. Kenner before? What do you think of her style of writing?

What do you love most about billionaire romances? Or do you hate them?

About J. Kenner

J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.

Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swopn for him.” A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).

Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries.